It amazes me how easily and sometimes sub-consciously we conform to the norms that others create for us. There are times to follow the rules and there are times when you need to try something new. Being innovative if not often seen as cool.

Watch this. I bet you will be amazed at how many people follow suit.

People Watching Plus (5 minutes – click for readers).

Are you the jerk boss in the office?

You may be a boss or even senior to many employees. However this does not mean that you own anyone.

It also doesn’t give you license to be an A#$H@(*. You are a manager for a reason. That reason does not include:

• being intimidating
• the right to be power hungry
• being a micro-manager to everyone
• taking credit for other peoples success
• making people do more work then is needed
• playing favorites
• telling innapropriate jokes
• creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation
• hiring people you like versus those that are better suited to perform at the job
• being a jerk

You set an example

I know it happens but that doesn’t give you the right to be that bad boss.

Being a manager, supervisor or someone who is senior to to employees means you are being given the trust to help guide employees in the right direction. Helping them to understanding their roles within a department, and help to improve and increase their level of performance.

Remember: Management is not your job, it is only another tool that you hold within your job to get things done.

Stop being a jerk and start by adjusting your attitude!

Have you been one of “those” manager’s that has needed your own attitude adjusted? Have you had a manager that needed to check the way they deal with their people? Tell me your story!

Not a typical ReThinkHR post… but this is a serious topic. People are getting out of hand. They are ignoring their hands. I mean seriously, they are not washing their hands…

People don’t typically discuss this topic but this is a topic that is very important.

I know you have heard or witnessed it. And yes ladies, I have heard from my lady friends that women can be even worse.

Guys wash your hands and spend some time on doing so.
I say “your” hands because I am OCD when it comes to hygiene and washing hands. So when I shake someones hand I don’t want to have to worry about where it has been.

Washing your hands is important!
How many people do you come into contact with daily?
Think about it like this… out of of all those people in business, the ones you have meetings with and go out to LUNCH with…
How many people do you shake hands with?

Imagine even closer contact with said person(s)?

Wash your hands! Think about this the next time you are shaking someone’s hand… did they do number 1 or number 2.
Eeeewwwwww… I know that was un-needed but necessary!

Have you witnessed events like this? Have you ever called anyone out?

What?

First off I am not talking about working your full time corporate job all while taking on hourly/contract or even part-time work at your local Kohl’s. No. I am talking about working one job and receiving, in your mind a salary, but in reality you are just getting an hourly wage.

Whether you’re exempt or non-exempt, we have all become hourly employees

The answer to the ‘HOW’ is so simple. Ready… Ready… you sure? Ready to hear the answer… here it goes:

Work 70 Hours a week.

That’s right. Work 70 hours a week and that’s the difference between roughly 34 bucks an hour (40 hrs) and 17$. “But Ben, I would never do that!” Ooooh… That’s what you say.

Many of you are doing it now. Throw out the misguided idea of work-life im-balance balance. Dump your misconception of “I am making this $$ a year.” Think outside the box. I am sure you are already saying “no way”. Here’s how you are doing it and how it adds up.

• 1hr = When you get up in the morning and after you clean up, first thing you do is check email from work, colleagues and vendors.
• 8hrs = You work at the gig.
• 1hr = You don’t go out for lunch, instead you catch up on stuff.
• 2hr (at least) = After you get home your working on it.
• Now multiply all that 6X. Because in reality you have so much of a connection between your personal and professional life, contacts and colleagues that you even take it home over the weekends.

Grand estimated total/average result: (1 + 8 + 1 + 2 hrs) X 6 days= 72 hrs a week. This is all before you take out how much you are losing to taxes, benefits, etc.

Question is: Is it all worth it?

First off 65K is a great salary for most people. As stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average American worker only makes around 34K a year and that’s a long shot. I would venture to say it is closer to 25k. So if you are making 65K a year woo haa for you. That’s still better than the average American worker makes. But does the above scenario and equation fit your situation?

At the same time you have to ask yourself, is the amount of time you are putting in worth it? Is it worth the time? Am I adding value, getting something out of it or am I just working harder and not smarter.

It’s so common… But like Trish McFarlane has asked… have we all been brain washed. Don’t question the hours. Don’t question the salary. Question your own sanity!

What are your thoughts? Do you enjoy what you do so much that you can’t get away or are you falling victim and can’t get away?